Tear: meaning, definitions and examples

When you describe the act of ripping or shredding something, often causing damage or destruction. This use has a negative connotation.

• She accidentally tore her dress on a nail.
• The child's drawing was torn to pieces.

When mentioning a small amount of liquid, not necessarily from the eye or morning nature, but in a very general sense.

• He added a drop of lemon to his water.
• A drop of rain fell on her hand.

When you are talking about small drops of water that form on surfaces like grass and leaves, typically in the morning.

• The morning sun glistened on the dewdrops.
• She observed the dewdrop hanging on the tip of the leaf.

When focusing on the shape or the aesthetic of a tear, often in a poetic or artistic sense.

• The pendant was shaped like a teardrop.
• She captured the perfect teardrop on her camera.

Can also mean to cry. Used to express sorrow or extreme emotions.

• Tears streamed down her face.
• He couldn't stop the tears from falling.

Used for tearing something quickly and sometimes violently. Often indicates damage.

• She ripped her dress on a nail.
• The dog ripped the pillow into pieces.

Implies tearing into small, thin strips. Often used for documents or materials that need to be destroyed or broken down.

• He shredded the confidential documents.
• The recipe said to shred the cabbage for the salad.

A more dramatic or literary term for tearing something. Often used to describe emotional or violent actions.

• The tragic news rent her heart.
• He could rend a thick book in two with his bare hands.